Jasmine finally brightened up.


    "OK! I want toe over tomorrow and celebrate with you and Great-Grandma," she dered.


    "Of course," Charlene said, her own spirits lifting. "What would you like to eat? I''ll make it for you."


    Jasmine rattled off a list of her favorite dishes, and Charlene agreed to make them all.


    After chatting a little longer, they hung up.


    The next morning, Charlene woke up early and went grocery shopping with her aunt and uncle.


    When they returned, she was in the kitchen with her aunt preparing the meal when they heard a car pull up outside.


    "That must be Minnie," Maisie said with a smile.


    Charlene nodded, washed her hands, and walked out of the kitchen.


    She froze when she saw Thorne standing at the door.


    "Mom, we''re here!" Jasmine shouted, running to her.


    Charlene snapped out of her daze and nodded, her eyes drifting back to Thorne.


    The rest of the Ross family was just as surprised to see him.


    After a moment, they recovered and politely invited him in.


    Thorne had brought an armful of gifts, enough to cover the entire coffee table in the living room.


    "You really didn''t have to bring all this," a family member said, looking a little embarrassed by the disy.


    "It''s my pleasure," Thorne replied as he sat down.


    Charleneposed herself and poured him a ss of water.


    "Thank you," he said, taking it. He noticed the apron tied around her waist, lightly dusted with flour. "Making pies?"


    "Yes," she confirmed.


    "The beef ones I love, right?" Jasmine chimed in.


    Charlene nodded. "That''s right."


    Since he was already here, she yed the part of a gracious host. "Are there no guests at the estate today?"


    "There are, but the family can handle them," Thorne replied.


    "I see," Charlene said.


    Jasmine, being a child, quickly grew bored of the adult conversation and ran off Charlene, Vernon Ross, and the others chatted with Thorne for a few more minutes until Jasmine came running back from the kitchen.


    "Mom," she asked, "did you make any of Daddy''s favorite foods?"


    Charlene''s ga?e flickered instinctively to Thorne, who was sittingfortably on the sofa. She and the rest of her family had


    assumed he was just dropping


    dopnine off and would Jasmine


    ve shortly


    But Jasmine''s question implied-


    Cóntent


    At that moment, Thorne looked over at her. Though no words were exchanged, she


    understood from his gaze that he fully intended to stay for dinner.


    She was stunned. The rest of the Ross family was equally taken aback.


    Thorne set his ss down. "Thank you for having me."


    Charlene quickly realized he must be doing this for Jasmine. The Ross family knew about their postponed divorce for their daughter''s sake, even if they hadn''t heard of any romantic reconciliation.


    Seeing the situation, they understood Thorne''s actions were for the child''s benefit and warmly weed him.


    Charlene stood up. "You all chat for a bit. I''m going to get back to the kitchen."


    "Do you need any help?" Thorne offered.


    Charlene knew he couldn''t cook and was just being polite. "No, we''ve got it under control. Please, make yourself at home. It''ll be a while before the food is ready, though."


    "That''s fine," Thorne said. "Minnie and I had breakfast before we came, so we''re not hungry yet."


    "Well, Alright."